Across
- 6. Aquatic regions where sunlight penetrates, able to support photosynthesis
- 8. Pockets ecosystems at the bottom of the ocean near divergent plant boundaries - producers in the ecosystem use chemosynthesis
- 10. Measurement of the variety and richness of an ecosystem, measured in parts by species richness, species evenness, and endemic species
- 12. Non-Native species in a community, are often able to outcompete endemic species because they are removed from the limiting factors they evolved with
- 14. When human population becomes so large they are not able to be supported by ecosystems - populations are higher than carrying capacity
- 16. Clearing forested land and repurposing it for non-forest use like agriculture, or urban development
- 18. Mature form of an ecosystem end result of biological succession
- 20. Long-term changes in average global temperatures causes changes in weather patterns - human interactions with ecosystems have accelerated this process
Down
- 1. Predictable changes in an ecosystem as it progresses from pioneer species on bare rock to a mature climax community - starts with no soil
- 2. Predictable changes in an ecosystem after a disturbance as it progresses toward reestablishing a mature climax community - some soil already exists
- 3. Collection of ecosystems characterized with similar temperatures, rainfall totals, and climax communities
- 4. Aquatic regions that do not have sunlight, unable to support photosynthesis
- 5. The introduction of harmful materials into the environment often from human sources
- 7. Species that evolve and are only found in one isolated geographic location - ex. Marsupials in Australia
- 9. A Visual representation of the feeding interactions in ecosystems - helps show interconnectedness among species
- 11. Key organism in an ecosystem that helps stabilize or maintain that ecosystem - ex. wolves in Yellowstone
- 13. Land ecosystems categorized by average temperature and precipitation - includes the tundra, grasslands, deserts, boreal forests, temperate forests, savannas, and tropical forests
- 15. Waterecosystems categorized by light availability, water depth, and salinity - includes intertidal areas, continental shelf, coral reefs, pelagic zones, benthic zones, photic and aphotic zones, and hydrothermal vents
- 17. Biomes where fresh and saltwater meet - typically very productive areas due to influx of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems
- 19. First species to invade or populate an area, typically a lichen in primary succession